GINSENG. 



CHAPTER II. 

 GINSENG. 

 CHARACTERS OF GINSENG. 

 BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. Panax Quinciuefolium. American 

 ginseng- Hoot .simple, fusiform, furcated. Leaflets, five, obovate 

 or obovate-oblong, bases abruptly narrowed. Floicer stem shorter 

 than the leaves, always unbranched. Ovary as large as a pea, 

 much compressed and crowned with two very short, erect, small 

 inconspicuous styles. Seeds smooth (Fig. 1) 

 POPULAR DESCRIPTION. Ginseng is an erect perennial plant. 

 The main stem about one foot long, branches into three stalks at 

 the summit (Fig. 1), each about three inches long; on the end of 

 each of which are arranged five leaflets borne on slender stalks 

 about one inch in length. The leaflets are thin, smooth below and 

 of delicate structure; the lower two in each cluster being about 

 two inches long, and the other three are about four inches long; 

 oval in general form, but tapering to a point and doubly toothed 

 along the edge. Rising from the main stem and in the center of 

 the three compound leaves is a stalk three or more inches long, 

 bearing in July a cluster of inconspicuous greenish-white flowers, 

 not appearing unlike a small head of white clover. These are soon 

 followed by the berries, which develope rapidly, remaining green 

 until August, when they begin to turn red, becoming scarlet late 

 in August or in September, when they are fully ripe. The berries, 

 which are edible and have the taste of the root, are about the size 

 of a pea or small white bean, and each contains from one to three, 

 sometimes four seeds. 



